Thresher



Nov. 23, 1943.

1.. P. MILLARD ET AL 2,334,944

THRESHER Fil ed Aug. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l y IQCLUJLQ Nov. 23, 1943. P ILLARD T A 2.334344 THRESHER Filed Aug. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIlIIII/IIIII fiwc: PM

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 TITRESHER Lee B. Millar'd and Stuart D; Pool, Moline, 111:, assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New J ersey Applicationfiugust 8', 1941, Serial No. 405,986-

'7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to threshers and isv particularly concerned with a novel drive and adjustment for the threshing cylinder.

An important object of the present invention is the. provision of a novel speed change device for the thresher cylinder.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for adjusting the cylinder and the speed change device with respect to the cylinder concave.

According to the present invention, a cylinder shaft and a transverse jack-shaft are journaled in frame structure that is movably mounted adjacent each of the separator side sheets. Adjustable mating pulley sections are mounted in alinement on the cylinder and jack-shaft. A novel manually adjustable means is operatively associated with each of the mating pulley sections in such a manner that the belt that is trained around said sections is always maintained ina straight line when the pulley sections are adjusted to change the cylinder speed. A manually adjustable means operatively connects the frame structures and the separator for adjusting the frame structures toward or away from the cylinder concave. This adjustment does not affect the speed of the cylinder, since the cylinder and jack-shaft are maintained in spaced relation by the frame structures.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred structural embodiment, taken. in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View of a thresher separator and shows the novel frame structures in which the cylinder and jack-shaft are journaled and the novel adjusting means for said structures;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the adjustable mating pulley sections for the cylinder shaft and jack-shaft; and,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure land shows the means for guiding and securing the frame structures to the separator side sheets.

Referring now to the drawings, it will benoted that the thresher chosen to'illustrate the prin ciples of the present invention comprises verticalspaced sidesheets II and I2'that-are connected-at their upper edges by a top l3. The side sheets I I A and I 2 are reenforced'by vertical angle bars M; The usual concave I5 is secured between the sheets II and I2.

On the outside of each of the side sheets II and I2 is movably mounted a frame structure H which comprises bearing plates I8a, I812, Hill, and [912. As shown in Figure 2, the frame structures ll. are positioned adjacent the side sheets I I and I2. Spaced elongated openings Ila and III) are provided in the side sheets II, and spaced openings I2a and I2b are provided in the side sheet I2. The openings I la and I lb are in alinement with the openings I21; and IN). Each of the. bearing plates Ilia, IBb, Illa, and ISD is providedwith a bearing that extends through the openings provided in the side sheets II and I2. This construction is shown in Figure 2. Referring now to Figure 1, it is to be noted that the bearing plate I8a has a pair of angle bars 2l secured thereto, which extend toward the bearing plate I81), and the bearing plate I8b has a pair of angle bars 22 secured thereto, which extend toward the bearing plate IBa. The angle bars 2| and 22 are positioned adjacent one another and are secured together by bolts 23. The bearingplates lim and l9b are also provided with angle bars z l and 25 that are secured together by bolts 26.

The bearinglplates IB'a and I8?) are held adjacent the side sheet' I2 by means of guide plates 21 which are secured to the sheet I2 by bolts 28. As shown in Figure 3, opposite edges of the plates I81]. and I8b are provided with a bead portion 29 over which a bead portion 30 of the guide plate 21 fits. Similar side plates 21 are provided for the bearing plates I8b, l9a, and I819.

In the bearings 28 provided in the bearing plates 18a and Iila isjournaled a jack-shaft 3| which extends outwardly beyond each of the side sheets II and I2. On the right-hand end of the jack-shaft (H is secured a sprocket 32 which may be driven from any suitable source of power for the machine. On the left-hand end of the jackshaft 3| ismounted an adjustable pulley 33 which comprises mating pulley sections 34 and 35. A manually adjustable means 36 consisting of a hand Wheel 3'! and a cylindrical portion 38 is journaled on the jack-shaft 3 I. The periphery of the cylindrical portion 38 is provided with rightand left-hand threads 39 and 40. The pulley section has a threaded opening II at its centerwhich is turned on the threaded portion 39 of the cylindrical portion 38, and the pulley section 34 has a threaded opening. 42 which is turned on-the threaded portion 40 of said portion 38: The-hand wheel 31 adjusts 'the pulley. sections drical portion 38. Since the pulley sections are in threaded engagement with the cylindrical portion 38, the pulley sections are moved toward or away from one another on the supporting means 43. I l

In the bearings 29 provided in the bearing plates I81) and [Sb is journaled a shaft on which is secured the usual threshing cylinder 49 that cooperates with the concave IS. The shaft 48 extends outwardly beyond the side sheet 12 and an adjustable pulley 33a, is mounted thereon which is identical to the pulley 33' with the exception that it is of different diameter. Since the pulley 33 has been described'in detail, the same reference numerals with the letter a affixed will denote similar parts, and itsconstruction will not be described. again, j

A'belt 53 is trained around the adjustable pulleys 33 and 33a. This belt drives the shaft 48 from the driven jack-shaft 3!. j

It is desirable many times to change the speed of the cylinder 49. By the structure just described, the speed of the cylinder may be quickly and easily changed. To effect this adjustment, the hand wheel 37a is rotated'so that the pulley sections 34a and 3512- are moved away from each other. This movement of the pulley sections 340. and 35a slackens the belt 56. Thehandwheel 3'! is then rotated so that the pulley sections 34 and 35 are moved toward one another until the belt 50 is again taut. Since the pulleysections of each speed change device are moved with respect to one another, the belt 50 is maintained'in a straight line position at all times, as shown in Figure .2.

After the adjustable pulleys 33 and 33a have been adjusted to the desired position, they are locked to the shaft on which they are mounted. Referring to Figure 2 and to the adjustable pulley 33, it will be noted that the end of the jackshaft 35 is provided with a reduced diameter threaded portion Bid on which a washer or collar is mounted. The washer contacts the end of the hand wheel 31, and the nuts 52 turned onthe portion em clamp the cylindrical portion 38 between the washer 5! i and the portion 44 of the supporting means 43; The adjustable pulley 33a. is clamped to the shaft $3 in the same manner.

The frame structures l'l provided at each side of the separator it may be moved so as to change the distance between the periphery of the cylinder 49 and the concave l5. This adustment is desirable, since sometimes the cropis heavy and a greater distance must be provided between the cylinder periphery and the concave. Sometimes the crop is light and consequently thecylinder periphery must be moved close to the concave to insure the proper threshing of the crop.

At the upper edge of each of. the plates I Ba and 53a is secured a rod 53 which extends upwardly through an opening provided in a bracket 54 that is secured to the separator l E! and the upper edge of the vertical angles H4. The free end of each of the rods 53 is provided with threads on which are turned nuts 55, one at each side of the bracket .54. When the cylinder 49 is tobe adjustedrelative to the concave [5, the nuts 55 are loosened. If the cylinder 49 is to be lowered, the bolts 28 of the bearing plates l 80., 18b, [9a, and I912 may be loosened. However, these bearing plates may be a slip fit in the guide plates 27 and 21a. The upper nuts 55 are loosened. The weight carried by the frame structure under most conditions is sufficiently great to lower the cylinder 49. In the event there is some grain between the cylinder 49 and the concave l5, the lower nuts 55 may be tightened against the bracket 54 to force the frame structures l1 toward the concave l5. The

bolts 28 are then tightened. If the cylinder is to be raised, the upper nuts 55 are first loosened, and then the lower nuts 55 are tightened to raise the frame structures IT.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that a novel drive has been provided for the thresher cylinder. The drive embodies novel means for quickly and easily changing the speed of the cylinder. Further, a novel means is provided for adjusting the thresher cylinder relative to the concave. This adjustment may be made without disturbing the speed of the cylinder.

While only a preferred construction embodying V the principles of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described, but that, in fact, widely diiferent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a thresher comprising a housing, a concave, a cylinder, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft, and means connecting the jack-shaft with the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jack-shaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave and maintaining the spacing between the jackshaft and the cylinder shaft, said means'comprising a frame structure rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft and means adjustably securing the frame structure to the housing for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

2. In'a thresher comprising a housing having spaced side sheets, a concave, a cylinder, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft, and means connecting the jack-shaft with the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jack-shaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave and maintaining the spacing between the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising frame structures rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft and means adjustably securing the frame structures to the side sheets of the'housing for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

3. In a thresher comprising a housing having a top and a side, a concave mounted in the housing, a cylinder positioned over the concave, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft positioned above the cylinder shaft and below the top of the housing, and means connecting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive ,from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jack-shaft, the

combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave while maintaining the spacing between the jackshaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising a frame structure rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft and means adjustably securing the frame structure to a point of the housing adjacent the top thereof for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

4. In a thresher comprising a housing having a top and spaced side walls, a concave mounted in the housing, a cylinder positioned over the concave, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft positioned above the cylinder shaft and below the top of the housing, and means connecting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jackshaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave while maintaining the spacing between the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising a frame structure rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, and means adjustably securing the frame structure to a point of the housing adjacent the top thereof for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

5. In a thresher comprising a housing having a top and spaced side walls, a concave mounted in the housing, a cylinder positioned Over the concave, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft positioned above the cylinder shaft and below the top of the housing, and means connecting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jack-shaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave while maintaining the spacing between the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising frame structures slidably mounted in the side walls of the housing for movement toward and away from the concave and rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft and means adjustably securing the frame structures to points on the housing at the juncture of the side walls with the top for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

6. In a thresher comprising a housing having a side wall, a concave mounted within the housing, a cylinder positioned adjacent the concave, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jackshaft, means connecting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave and maintaining the spacing between the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising a first plate slidably mounted on the side wall and rotatably supporting the cylinder shaft, guide means associated with opposite edges of the first plate and with the side wall of the housing for limiting sliding of the first plate along the side wall to a direction toward and away from the concave, a second plate slidably mounted on the side wall and rotatably supporting the jack-shaft, guide means associated with opposite edges of the second plate and with the side wall of the housing for limiting sliding of the second plate along the side wall to a direction toward and away from the concave, means tying the plates together to secure them against relative movement, and means adjustably securing the plates to the housing for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave.

7. In a thresher comprising a housing having a top and spaced side walls, a concave mounted in the housing, a cylinder positioned over the concave, a cylinder shaft carrying the cylinder, a jack-shaft positioned above the cylinder shaft and below the top of the housing, and means connecting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft for transmitting drive from the jack-shaft to the cylinder shaft and for varying the ratio of the speed of the cylinder to the speed of the jackshaft, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the spacing between the cylinder and the concave while maintaining the spacing between the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, said means comprising frame structures slidably mounted on the side walls of the housing and rotatably supporting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft, each frame structure including a plate, guide means associated with opposite edges of the plates for limiting sliding of the plates to a direction toward and away from the concave, and means adjustably securing the frame structures to the housing for conjointly adjusting the jack-shaft and the cylinder shaft with respect to the concave, said means comprising brackets secured at opposite sides of the housing at the junctures of the side walls and the top of the housing, bolts secured to the frame structures and extending through the brackets and nuts threaded on the bolts and engaging the brackets to determine the position of the bolts with respect to the brackets.

LEE P. MILLARD. STUART D. POOL. 

